BMW Unveils 2014 M6 Gran Coupe

BMW has officially unveiled the latest member of the M series family the 2014 M6 Gran Coupe which promises to bring a balanced mix of luxury and world class performance to enthusiasts when it makes its debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show next month.

Designed to take on competitors such as the Audi S7 and the Mercedes CLS63 AMG, BMW engineers have made several exterior and interior tweaks to make the car stand out from its competition. The M6 Gran Coupe’s exterior styling retains many of the sleek lines that made their debut on the basic M6 coupe but larger front air vents, and optional fully adaptive LED headlights add an elegant flavor to the car while a carbon fiber roof panel and flared wheel arches highlight the car’s performance side. A model exclusive twin kidney grille rounds out the exterior tweaks and adds a touch of exclusivity to the car.

Like its M5 and M6 siblings, the M6 Gran Coupe is powered by BMW’s familiar 4.4 liter twin turbo V8 engine which is good for a hearty 560 horsepower and an equally impressive 500 lb-ft of torque. All of this raw muscle is sent to the rear wheels through a seven speed dual clutch which teams up with the electronically controlled Active M limited slip differential to make the car capable of completing the sprint to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds before topping out at an electronically limited 155 mph. Braking is handled by standard 4 wheel vented and cross drilled discs which offer 15.7 inches of braking area up front and 15.6 inches at the rear wheels. Buyers looking for even more stopping performance can opt for the optional M-Ceramic disc brakes which are 50 percent lighter than the standard issue units.

The interior of the 2013 M6 Gran Coupe also retains many of the features and materials seen in other M models, but BMW designers have bestowed the M6 Gran Coupe with several unique touches to give it an edge against its competitors. Splashes of model exclusive carbon fiber trim are scattered throughout the cabin to build on the car’s performance-oriented theme which is further highlighted by the lighter bucket seats and the generous amounts of Alcantara headliner.

After the car makes its official debut in Detroit, expect sales to begin at a BMW dealership near you early next summer when the model arrives as a 2014 model. BMW did not release pricing and fuel economy numbers at the time of this writing, but expect both of those questions to be officially answered closer to its official unveiling – and expect fuel to be on par with the two-door M6’s, and its pricing above the regular M6’s. In the meantime, BMW has released a brief video of the car in motion which can be seen below.

Carl Malek is Autosavant’s resident German car fanatic and follower of all things General Motors. Carl first entered the world of automotive journalism as a freelance photographer during his freshman year of college before making the switch to automotive writing several years later. Carl developed an interest in cars at an early age, which helped him overcome the challenges of a learning disability in mathematics. In addition to writing for Autosavant community, Carl also contributes to many car forums and enjoys attending automotive events in the Metro Detroit area with his family. Carl’s message for others with learning disorders is to believe in yourself, be persistent, and face all challenges head on.